HUMPHREY, AR, USA
N1031Q
Air Tractor AT-401
The agricultural airplane impacted a dike during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot stated that he was returning to his private airstrip after completing a spray run when the engine 'quit suddenly.' The pilot added that the engine restarted; however, it lost power again forcing him to make a landing in a rice field. The FAA inspector stated that the 'left fuel tank was dry and the right fuel tank contained 1 inch of fuel.' He added that the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank.
On August 12, 1999, at 0730 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401 agricultural airplane, N1031Q, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Humphrey, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Porky's Flying Service of Humphrey, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the operator's private airstrip at 0700. During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was returning to his private airstrip after completing a spray run when the engine "quit suddenly." The pilot added that the engine restarted; however, it lost power again, forcing him to make a landing in a rice field approximately one mile from the private strip. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted a dike with both wings. According to the FAA inspector, who visited that accident site, the left and right wing spars, three feet inboard of the wing tips, were bent up. The main landing gear collapsed, and the propeller sustained impact damage. The FAA inspector reported that the "left fuel tank was dry and the right fuel tank contained 1 inch of fuel." He added that the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank.
Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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